Skip to main content

Putting Asian-Pacific Professionals on the Fast Track

Lillian Tsai, founder and President of TsaiComms LLC, was honored for her outstanding and ongoing support of Seattle-based Executive Development Institute (EDI), a program provides culturally tailored leadership programs to put Asian-Pacific professionals on a fast track for success.

EDI participants from global and local companies such as Boeing, Microsoft, Nike, Norpac, Weyerhauser, State Farm Insurance, REI, NW Natural Gas, Nordstrom, KeyBank, PGE and the U.S. Postal Service, participate in nine-month long programs called "Leadership Discovery" and "Leadership Navigation" that teach self-discovery and leadership skills such as helping individuals become more aware of the unique cultural and values differences between the Asian-Pacific cultures and the mainstream American culture and how to best translate these values into the corporate business environment.

"As an executive coach and mentor at EDI for the past two years, it has been my privilege and honor to work with some highly motivated individuals whose ambitions have brought them to a point in their careers where all they needed is that extra boost," stated Lillian Tsai. "Every EDI graduate is an inspiration to future generations of Asian Pacific Americans, and I am extremely grateful and humbled in being presented this award."

Originally begun in Seattle, WA, the program has now grown to the Portland, Oregon area, graduating 408 professionals in the Greater Puget Sound area and 37 in Oregon.

"No company or community can be stronger than the sum of its people," said Starr Macdonald, Executive Director. "EDI is passionate and skilled at developing culturally diverse leaders to allow them to make a fuller contribution in all aspects of their life. Just as metals are made stronger by mixing different alloys, companies likewise are made stronger by fully engaging every person and a diversity of cultures to improve morale, business performance and their communities."

For more info on EDI, visit www.ediorg.org

Popular posts from this blog

Minding the Wealth Gap

As a Black investor and startup founder, Cliff Goins IV brings firsthand experience and sharp insight to one of America’s most urgent issues: the racial wealth gap. Having navigated the worlds of finance and entrepreneurship, Goins has seen up close the systemic disparities in wealth creation, access to capital, and asset management. From unequal opportunities in homeownership and education to persistent challenges in business funding and employment, the historical gaps are perpetuated in present-day practices. In "Minding the Wealth Gap," Goins skillfully blends data, lived experience, and the insights of experts to illuminate the deep-rooted economic disparities facing Black Americans. More importantly, he highlights the power of collective uplift. Through the voices of nine dynamic “gap closers,” Goins shows how real change happens when Black investors and leaders open doors for others. Each success “play” or strategy underscores the ripple effect of support. Selena Cu...
Read more

A Beginner’s Guide to the Roots of Yoga

The modern practice of yoga in Western culture is often criticized for disconnecting from its cultural, historical, and spiritual roots. In many studios and gyms, yoga is reduced to a fitness routine—focused on stretching rather than its original purpose of enlightening the mind. In "A Beginner’s Guide to the Roots of Yoga," celebrated practitioner Nikita Desai reconnects readers with yoga’s ancient Indian origins. Drawing on her Indian heritage, Desai explores the deeper meanings behind yoga’s forms, postures, and intentions, offering a rich historical and philosophical context for those seeking a more authentic practice. Desai shares her personal journey of reclaiming yoga’s essence, inviting readers to do the same by integrating cultural awareness into their practice. Her tone is welcoming and nonjudgmental, making the book accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Although I do not practice yoga, my meditation roots lie in Zen Buddhism. Through conversations with prac...
Read more

Wash

Ebony Stewart’s "Wash" is a powerful, unflinching poetry collection that draws the reader into a world of raw emotion, deep introspection, and lyrical brilliance. As I read through the poems, I found myself captivated by Stewart’s honest reflections on identity, love, loss, and healing. Her voice is unapologetically bold, revealing the complexities of being a Black womxn navigating relationships, societal expectations, and hard-fought victories toward self-worth. Yet, her themes are universal, resonating with anyone who has grappled with their own identity and relationships. What struck me most was Stewart’s emotional transparency: each poem feels like a cleansing, a shedding of shame, doubt, and grief, revealing the triumph of knowing one’s value in a world that often seeks to diminish it. Stewart doesn’t shy away from exploring the pain of extractive love or the vulnerability of desire, but she also leaves room for empowerment and resilience. As a celebrated spoken word ...
Read more